Fastener for dismountably assembling laminar elements

ABSTRACT

Fastener ( 4 ) for dismountably assembling laminar elements such as the bottom ( 2 ) and lateral ( 3 ) walls of containers, boxes ( 1 ) and the like comprising, at least, a tongue ( 6 ) having a widened head ( 6   a ) defining a neck ( 6   b ), which is located in one of the elements to be assembled and, at least, a groove ( 5 ) intended for receiving said neck ( 6   b ), located in the other element to be assembled, and whose width is comprised between the width of the neck ( 6   b ) and the width of the widened ( 6   a ) head; the groove ( 5 ) having, at least, an open side ( 7 ) where a resiliently displaceable retainer ( 8 ) is provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fastener for dismountably assembling laminar or planar elements, which may be similar or different. The fastener may be used in laminar or planar elements such as the top, bottom, and side walls that form a box or container for transporting wine bottles, transporting foodstuff such as fruits or vegetables, transporting milk containers, etc.

PRIOR ART

Known in the art are boxes or container assemblies for various uses, such as for transporting fruits and vegetables. The boxes may include a number of essentially laminar elements that make up the bottom and lateral walls of the box. The laminar elements may be dismountably assembled by means of fasteners comprising grooves and tongues connected to said bottom and/or lateral walls. These boxes may incorporate lids, supports, connecting means with other similar boxes for stacking or piling them up, etc.

Since these boxes or containers include a number of dismountable elements, they only take up an essentially planar space when stored or transported. This space is much smaller in comparison with the space needed when they are in a mounted position, thus reducing the corresponding costs.

For example, the dismountable box disclosed in European patent application EP0154558 is known. The application discloses a dismountable container in the form of a box having a plurality of lateral walls and a base, as well as dismountable connection means between these elements. The dismountable connection means comprises tongues that enter into grooves, said tongues having a harpoon-like end retention lip whose width is greater than the corresponding groove dimension.

This configuration of the fastener is disadvantageous in that once the boxes or containers are assembled, when they are stacked on top of one another and filled with a product for being stored and transported, the lower boxes bear the weight of all the higher boxes, and are not always able to support and resist the weight as intended. Thus, a large portion of the product arrives at the destination in a totally destroyed state, and losses arise.

Additionally, repeated operations of assembly and disassembly cause wear, deformation, and loss of resistance both in the retention lip and in the groove, and the fastening becomes insufficient. For this reason, when the product is transported (ground transportation and sea transportation) a large percentage of the boxes or containers do not withstand such conditions, and the product arrives at the destination totally destroyed, and losses again arise.

Generally speaking, perimeter fasteners are not very disassembly-proof, because the fastened parts necessarily must bend for their mutual interaction. This fact imposes a limitation on their size, which is too small to ensure a proper retention capability in the presence of traction stress arising due to the weight of the product, subsequent stacking and transport thereof. Additionally, the bending step requires the inclusion of other systems for retaining the parts which otherwise would become disassembled because of the bending. If a large number of holes are introduced, then the structure of the material is weakened. In other cases, no retention system is provided at the bottom, which causes the bottom of big containers to detach very easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The fastener for dismountably assembling laminar or planar elements of the invention has a configuration that solves the above technical problems due to the fact that those components that are subject to traction or force are not caused to bend. This allows the components to have a bigger size such that a better retention capability is achieved and no weakening occurs.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the fastener comprises a tongue having a widened head and a neck which is located in one of the elements to be assembled. The other element to be assembled includes at least one groove designed to receive said neck. This groove has a width that is between the width of the neck and the width of the widened head. The groove has an open side where a resiliently displaceable retainer is provided.

The retainer bends, allowing for the introduction of the tongue's head so that the neck is located at the groove. The retainer then returns to position, and functions to hold the neck in the groove. The retainer exerts the same traction as the product charge once placed in the container. Thus, a greater resistance or strength is achieved and advantage is taken of the resistance of the material used for the assembly. An excessive number of holes weakening the structure of the material is avoided. Thus, the resultant container may be rigidly assembled and may be completely resistant to weight when placed in a stack and transported.

The retainer may comprise a strip having a resiliently displaceable free end adjacent each open side of the corresponding groove, and another end directly or indirectly rigidly connected to the laminar element in which the groove is located.

This fastening may be used in plastic, wood, and derivatives thereof such as wood fiber board, plywood, cardboard, etc. This fastening may even be used for assembling-joining parts having a greater resistance, such as those made of metals such as steel, for avoiding the need for soldering or riveting.

This fastener is satisfactory for providing a solid and consistent assembly. However, there are certain limitations in connection with the opening of the lid and the assembly and disassembly thereof. Indeed, the inventive fastener configuration may not be used for the lids of the containers because that may make the disassembly of the lid for providing access to the product inside almost impossible.

Similarly, there is no known fastening system really solving this problem, and this fact results in the lids of these containers to be either very easily opened, thus not securing the contents inside, or else having an additional element such as nails, staples, glue, etc. for ensuring that the lid does not open in response to the force that the product itself exerts on the lid during transport. These additional elements make opening difficult and prevent the container and/or the lid from being reused.

Additionally, using other elements made of a different material than the container for ensuring a proper closure complicates recycling. For this reason, and because they are difficult to use, these additional elements are not generally used. Thus, the closure or fastening systems for the lids of these containers do not guarantee that the product will not been inappropriately manipulated without it being detected.

In view of this, an improved fastener is also disclosed where the strip additionally has a tearable end sector defined by weakened lines, whose size allows for the extraction movement of the tongue but whose weakened lines offer a mechanical resistance higher than that needed for bending the strip when assembling the fastener. Accordingly, the tearable sector may need to be broken in order to open the lid, such that any inappropriate opening thereof is detectable.

For assembling the fastener when mounting the lid, the lid can bend without the need to break its tearable end sector because the mechanical strength of the weakened lines is not exceeded. To open the lid, the necessary force to break this end sector must be applied such that the tongue is set free to uncouple its neck from the groove and it is extracted through the hole created when the tearable end sector is detached.

Similarly, the improved fastener comprises cuts in the laminar element where the tongue is located, specifically adjacent the point where it is detached, allowing for a lateral bending thereof when coupling and uncoupling the fastener. Thus, this part of the fastener may be used as many times as necessary. Additionally, the lid is allowed to be freely placed and extracted once the seal is broken when the container has arrived at its destination. The product is thus protected, although the seal breakage detection function achieved by the tearable sector of the strip is no longer in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a box having the fasteners of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded, perspective view of the box of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed plan view of the fastener of the invention.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show respective cross-sectional detailed views of the introduction of the neck of the tongue in the groove of the fastener of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of another embodiment of a fastener according to the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a lateral cross-section of the lid of the box with the improved fastener of FIG. 7 in an assembled state.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show respective cross-sectional detailed views of the introduction of the neck of the tongue in the groove of the fastener of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show respective cross-sectional detailed views of the breakage of the tearable end sector of the improved fastener for extracting the lid of the box.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The fastener arrangement or fastener (4) (FIG. 1) of the invention may be used for dismountably assembling laminar or planar elements, such as the bottom (2) and lateral (3) walls of the box (1) shown in the figures, which may also have a lid (12) which supports or provides a mount for the stacking of boxes, etc.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the fastener comprises a tongue (6) (FIG. 3) having a widened head (6 a) and a neck (6 b). Tongue (6) may be included in one of the elements to be assembled, and a through-slot or groove (5) may be included in the other element to be assembled. Groove (5) may be designed, sized and configured for receiving said neck (6 b). Groove (5) may have a width larger than the width of the neck (6 b) and smaller than the width of the widened head (6 a). Groove (5) may have an open side (7) where a resiliently displaceable retainer (8) is located. Groove (5) may include a closed side (7 a) opposite to the open side (7), as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. However, a groove may include two opposite open sides (7), this embodiment not being represented in the figures.

The tongues (6) having a widened head (6 a) may have a general T shape or anchor shape, as shown in details in FIGS. 3 and 4, and may have contact faces (10) parallel to the contact edges (5 a) of the grooves (5). Tongues (6) may have a width which is equal to or slightly less than—depending on the acceptable tolerances—to the transversal lumen of the groove (5). This configuration may achieve an effective retention capability and not require having harpoon-like inclined sides that reduce and weaken the working section of the widened head.

The retainer (8) comprises a strip (11) having a resiliently displaceable free end (11 a) which is adjacent the open side (7) of the corresponding groove (5), and another end (11 b) rigidly connected directly or indirectly to a body of the planar element in which the groove (5 a) is located. The width of the strip is slightly greater than the width of the widened head (6 a) of the corresponding tongue (6), thus allowing for the passage thereof and the placement of the neck (6 b) in the groove (5). This width need only be maintained in the zone of introduction of the widened head, and it may be reduced in other parts thereof; for example, FIG. 7 shows the strip (11) having width variations, but the width in the zone where the widened head (6 a) passes through through-slot or groove 5 is slightly greater than the width of head (6 a).

On the other hand, the retainers (8) and/or the tongues (6) may be produced by die-cutting in monoblock configuration of the boards or laminar elements making up the bottom (2) and/or the lateral walls (3) of the box (1) to be assembled. These laminar elements may be made of materials such as plastic, wood, or derivatives thereof such as wood fiber board, plywood, cardboard, etc. These laminar elements may even be made of metals such as steel for avoiding the need to use soldering, riveting, etc.

Another embodiment of a fastener arrangement or fastener (4) is disclosed making reference to FIGS. 7 to 13. In this fastener (4), strip (11) additionally has a tearable end sector (11 c) defined by at least one weakened and/or perforated line (11 d), and having a width allowing for the extraction movement of the tongue (6). FIG. 7 shows the weakened line (11 d) located in the narrow zone of the strip (11), such that detachment of the tearable sector (11 c) clears out the zone having a width slightly greater than the width of the widened head (6 a), thus allowing for it to come out by means of bending the tongue (6) as shown in FIG. 8. The weakened lines (11 d) may have a mechanical resistance or strength that is higher than that needed to bend the strip (11) when assembling the fastener (4).

Specifically for improving the bending capability of the tongue (6), both when assembling the fastener and when disassembling it once the tearable end sector (11 c) is detached, the invention comprises the laminar element including the tongue (6) having slits or cuts (20) near the detachment zone of said tongue (6).

Finally, in order to avoid the use of tools and to make detachment of the tearable sector (11 c) easier, said tearable sector (11 c) may have a width and/or height slightly greater than the width and/or height of a finger (21), in order to allow for a direct application of pressure by finger (21) as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

Once the nature of the invention is sufficiently described, it is noted that the description and the preferred embodiment thereof must not be interpreted to be limitative, and it encompasses all possible embodiment variations derived from the content of the present specification and drawings. 

1. A fastener arrangement (4) for dismountably assembling planar or laminar elements such as the bottom (2) and lateral (3) walls of containers, boxes (1) and the like, the fastener arrangement comprising: a first planar or laminar element including a tongue (6) having a widened head (6 a) defining a neck (6 b); and a second planar or laminar element configured to be assembled to the first planar or laminar element, the second planar or laminar element including a groove (5) sized, adapted and configured to receive said neck (6 b), the groove (5) having a width greater than a width of the neck (6 b) and less than a width of the widened head (6 a), the groove (5) having an open side (7) where a resiliently displaceable retainer (8) is provided.
 2. The fastener arrangement (4) for dismountably assembling planar or laminar elements according to claim 1, wherein the groove (5) comprises a closed side (7 a) opposite the open side (7).
 3. The fastener arrangement (4) for dismountably assembling planar or laminar elements according to claim 1, wherein the tongue (6) has a general T shape or anchor shape, and has contact faces (10) configured and adapted to be parallel to contact edges (5 a) of the groove (5) when the second planar or laminar element is assembled to the first planar or laminar element.
 4. The fastener arrangement (4) for dismountably assembling planar or laminar elements according to claim 1, wherein the retainer (8) comprises a strip (11) having a resiliently displaceable free end (11 a) adjacent the open side (7) of the corresponding groove (5), and another end (11 b) rigidly connected to a body of the second planar or laminar element.
 5. The fastener arrangement (4) for dismountably assembling planar or laminar elements according to claim 4, wherein a width of the strip (11) is slightly greater than the width of the widened head (6 a) of the corresponding tongue (6).
 6. The fastener arrangement (4) for dismountably assembling planar or laminar elements according toclaim 4, wherein the strip (11) has a tearable end sector (11 c) defined by at least one weakened or perforated line (11 d), the tearable end sector (11 c) having a size that allows for extraction movement of the tongue (6), the weakened line (11 d) having a mechanical resistance higher than that necessary for bending the strip (11) when assembling the fastener (4), and wherein the first planar or laminar element comprises slits (20) near a detachment point of said tongue (6) and configured and adapted for allowing for lateral bending of the first planar or laminar element when coupling and uncoupling the first planar or laminar element and the second planar or laminar element.
 7. The fastener arrangement (4) for dismountably assembling planar or laminar elements according to claim 6, wherein the tearable end sector (11 c) is sized to enable a human finger to pass therethrough.
 8. The fastener arrangement (4) for dismountably assembling planar or laminar elements according to claim 1, wherein the retainer (8) is produced by die-cutting in monoblock configuration of the second planar or laminar element.
 9. The fastener arrangement (4) for dismountably assembling planar or laminar elements according to claim 1, the tongue (6) is produced by die-cutting in monoblock configuration of the first planar or laminar element.
 10. The fastener arrangement (4) for dismountably assembling planar or laminar elements according to claim 9, wherein the elements to be assembled are made of plastic, wood, wood derivatives, plywood, cardboard and/or metal. 